Charles spiro



Patented Feb. 7, I899.

c. smnn, TYPE WRITER RIBBUN FEEDMECHANISM.

(Application filed on. 31,. 1898.) (N 0 M o d B] v UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

CHARLES SPIBO, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

TYPE-WRlTER-RIBBON FEED MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 619,027, dated February7, 1899.

Original application filed April 9, 1897, Serial No. 631,437. Dividedand this application filed October 31, 1898. Serial No.

695,059-. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES 'SPIRO, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county of New York, State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Type-Writer-Ribbon FeedMechanism, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in type.-writers,and particularlyto an automatic ribbon-shifting mechanism disclosed in my priorapplication, filed April 9, 1897, Serial No. 631,437, of which thisapplication is a division.

The invention has for its object to secure a positive control of theribbon-shifting mechanism, which will be automatically operated aseither end of the ribbon is reached.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel construction ofribbon-spool provided with a positively-operated member-connected withthe ribbon and adapted to engage the shifting mechanism.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear inthe following description, and the novel features thereof will beparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

7 Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan View of a part ofatype-writer and frame to which the invention is applied. Fig. 2 is aperspective of the ribbon-spool and its adjuncts. Fig. 3 is a verticalsection through the spool. Fig. 4 is a central vertical section of theribbon-shifting mechanism and operating connections, and Fig. 5 is arear elevation of said shifting mechanism.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the severalfigures of the drawings.

The letter A representsthe key-levers of a type-writer, which aresuitably mounted in a framework and connected to the type-bars of themachine. Pivotally mounted beneath the key-levers A is the universalbail H of the machine, and from it projects a ribbonguide 1, whereby atthe depression of each key-lever of the machine the ribbon is carriedunder the type and returned with the guide, so as to expose the printedcharacters. The

oscillation of the ribbon-guide serves through the medium of a pawl I tooperate a ratchet J, Figs. 4 and 5, mounted on a shaft J bearing at eachend a pinion J The shaft is mounted in an oscillating block J carried bya pivot J seated in the standard J upon which the spools K and theirshaft K and gears K are mounted, all as clearly shown in Fig. 5. .Itwill be noted that when the block J 3 is inclined in one direction thepinion J meshes with the spool-gear K at one side of the standard, andvice versa.

L L represent latches pivoted on the standard J 5 and adapted to takeunder projections J 6 at each side of the block J 3 for the purpose oflooking a pinion J 2 in mesh with a gear K Above the pivots of thelatches each is provided with an arm L and these arms are connected by acoiled spring L the purpose of which is to force one latch quickly undera projection J 6 as soon as the opposite latch is released from anopposite projection, the release being occasioned by an oscillation ofthe block J 5 and the operation of anarm M, projecting from a rock-shaftM, mounted in bearings projecting from the standard J From therock-shaft M there is projected a spring M which terminates in a socketof the screw J which secures the detent J operating on the ratchet J. Ofcourse the spring M may be otherwise operatively connected with theblock J Now it will be seen that when the rock-shaft M is oscillated itfirst brings the arm M into contact with one of the latches or with aprojection thereon, as shown in Fig. 4, and forces said latch frombeneath a projection J 6 on the block J During the movement of the arm Min thus releasing the latch the spring M has been put undertension,which then oscillates the block,-the opposite latch havingin themeantime been moved under the opposite projection J by the coiled springL The oscillation of the rock-shaft M is produced by mechanism operatingagainst the double arm M one of the two ends of which rests above one ofthe spools and the opposite end above the other.

Each of the spools K has a slot K in each wall thereof extendingoutwardly from the central portion thereof, and in the slot rests a barK, to which the ribbon N is connected in any suitable manner. In thisinstance a hook N is employed. At each end of the bar K is secured afinger K Now it will be noted that when the end of the type-ribbon isreached the unwinding movement of thespool continues through theoperation of the pawl I, ribbon-guide I, ratchet J, pinion J and gear Kand the bar K, with the fingers K is gradually brought outwardly fromthe center of the spool toward its periphery in the slots K until thefingers K come into contact with one end of the double arm M ofj therock-shaft M, and said fingers continue] movement about the center ofthe spool, foreing the arm M to move with them u ntil the arm M andspring M have accomplished an oscili lation of the block J which carriesthe opposite pinion J 2 into mesh with the gear of the opposite spool,which then begins to wind the ribbon upon the spool, which caused thereversal of ribbon-feed. Fig. 5 shows the parts in the position assumedat the instant that the fingers have caused a meshing of a pinion withthe gear of the empty spool, and it is apparent that substantially theentire length of the ribbon has been employed.

The construction of operating-finger shown causes the same to bepositively operated by the pull of the ribbon when the last portionthereof is unwound from the spool. The finger is thus brought intoposition to operate the shifting mechanism, and when the reversemovement of the spool begins the finger is positively withdrawn by thecontactof the ribbon. All unnecessary connecting mechanism is dispensedwith and the ribbon itself extends and withdraws the finger in a lineoutwardly from the central portion of the spool, thus producing aquicker action of the finger than if the slot were otherwise located.

It is obvious that numerous changes in the construction and arrangementof the details of this invention may be made Without affecting thespirit of the same as defined by the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-- 1. Atype-ribbon spool provided with a finger, atype-ribbon connected at its end to said finger, and means for guidingor directing the movement of said finger; substantially as specified.

2. A ribbon-spool having a slot in its head and a movable finger mountedfor travel along said slot in its head and provided with means forconnection with the end of a ribbon; substantially as specified.

3. A ribbon-spool provided with a slot in its head extending outwardlyfrom the central portion thereof and arranged on other than adiametrical line, and a movable finger traveling in said slot;substantially as specified.

4. A ribbon-spool provided with a slot in each of its heads, a barmounted in said slots 5. The combination with aribbon-feed-reversingmechanism, of a double arm connected with said mechanism, andribbonspools provided with movable fingers, to each of which one end ofa ribbon is secured; substantially as specified.

6. A ribbon-shifting mechanism comprising a rock-shafthavinga double armprojecting over the ribbon-spools, latches or looks forspool-drivingdevices, an arm for controlling the latches or looks of thespool-driving devices and also having a spring-arm for changing theposition of said driving devices, and means carried by the spools andconnected to the ribbon for changing the position of said double arm byengagement therewith; substantially as specified.

7. The combination with ribbon-spools provided with movable fingersconnected with the ribbon, of a rock-shaft having a double armprojecting into the path of the fingers, spooldriving devices, latchesor looks for spool-driving devices, and an arm projecting from saidshaft into the plane of movement of said locking latches; substantiallyas specified.

8. A ribbon-spool provided with a movable finger, and means forconnecting the ribbon at its end to the finger whereby in the windingmovement of the ribbon the finger is positively moved to a positionwithin the periphery of the spool and in the unwinding movement whencompleted the finger is positively moved to a position beyond theperiphery of the spool; substantially as specified.

9. A ribbon-shifting mechanism comprising a rock-shaft having a doublearm projecting over the ribbon-spools, a pivoted block carrying gears tomesh with the gear-wheels of the spools, pivoted latches at oppositesides of said block to hold the same in its shifted position, meanscarried by said rock-shaft to move said latches, means to move saidblock when released from said latches, and means carried by the spoolsand connected to the ribbon for shifting the position of said double armby engagement therewith; substantially as specified.

10. A ribbon-shifting mechanism comprising a rock-shaft having a doublearm and means carried by the ribbon-spools and connected to the ribbonfor shifting said arm by engagement therewith, a pivoted block carryinggears adapted to mesh with the gearwheels of the spools, latches forretaining said block in its shifted positions, a spring for normallyforcing one end of said latches inward, an arm carried by saidrock-shaft to engage said latches, and an arm carried by said rockshaftand engaging said block to shift the same; substantially as specified.

11. A ribbon-shifting mechanism comprising a rock-shaft having a doublearm and means carried by the ribbon-spools and connected to the ribbonfor shifting said arm by engagement therewith, a pivoted block carryinggears to mesh with the gear-wheels of the spools, latches for retainingsaid block in its shifted positions, a spring for forcing one end ofsaid latches inward, an arm carried by said rock-shaft to engage saidlatches, and a spring secured to the rock-shaft andhaving a bearing insaid block; substantially as specified.

12. A ribbon-shifting mechanism comprising a rock-shaft having a doublearm and means carried by the ribbon-spools and connected to the ribbonfor shifting said arm by engagement therewith, a pivoted block car-CHARLES SPIRO.

Witnesses:

MICHAEL P. CORRIGAN, HENRY LESINSK.

